Sheet material cutter

ABSTRACT

A cutter for sheets of paper or other material adapted to cooperate with a ruler of any usual type to produce straight lines cuts and including a slot for the passage of the sheet of material therethrough, the sheet passage slot is arranged to allow unhampered travel of sheet material of different thicknesses therethrough and to oppose the formation of folds into the material. The sheet passage slot enters into the body of the cutter through the bottom face and a side face thereof adjacent a straight edge of the same, such as to prevent hinderance of the sheet material between the guide or ruler and the straight edge of the cutter and also between the cutter and the support surface. In a preferred embodiment, the cutter is arranged to cut by displacement in either of two opposite longitudinal directions and to be guided by engagement of either of the two opposite sides with a ruler.

Marcoux 14 1 Sept. 17, 1974 1 SHEET MATERIAL CUTTER [76] Inventor: EmeryMarcoux, 445A Fleury Street, East, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 22 Filed:Jan. 31, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 328,342

Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-J. C. Peters [57]ABSTRACT A cutter for sheets of paper or other material adapted tocooperate with a ruler of any usual type to produce straight lines cutsand including a slot for the passage of the sheet of materialtherethrough, the sheet passage slot is arranged to allow unhamperedtravel of sheet material of different thicknesses therethrough and tooppose the formation of folds into the material. The sheet passage slotenters into the body of the cutter through the bottom face and a sideface thereof adjacent a straight edge of the same, such as to preventhinderance of the sheet material between the guide or ruler and thestraight edge of the cutter and also between the cutter and the supportsurface. In a preferred embodiment, the cutter is arranged to cut bydisplacement in either of two opposite longitudinal directions and to beguided by engagement of either of the two opposite sides with a ruler.

9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDSEP 1 71914 sum 2 or 2 SHEETMATERIAL CUTTER This invention relates to a cutting device and, moreparticularly, to a cutter of the type having a fixedly carried cuttingblade particularly adapted to cut sheet material by displacement alongthe latter.

Known cutters of the above type are adapted to open envelopes by cuttinga strip along one edge thereof. Such envelope cutters are more or lessrestricted to that single function, since they are adapted to cut amarginal strip of definite width only. This is due to the fact that theenvelopes travel into a slot which extends only a finite depth into thecutting device and the depth of the slot defines the width of themarginal strips. There are also other known cutters of the above type,which are slidably mounted onto a particular guiding support, whereby toproduce straight line cuts. Such cutter with a guiding support isrestricted to cut along straight lines and only in cooperation with thatguiding support.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a cutting device ofthe above type which is not only adapted to cut along straight lines andalong other lines at any distance from the edge of the material but isalso adapted to run laterally against the straight side of any straightedge guide, such as the edge of a ruler, to produce straight line cuts,while avoiding interference of the sheet material between the straightside and the cutter, the latter being also operatively independent ofsuch straight guide.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sheet material cutterwherein sheet materials of different thicknesses are allowed to travelsubstantially unhampered lengthwise of the cutter into a suitable sheetpassage slot therein, which is arranged to oppose folding of the sheetmaterial into the cutter.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sheet materialcutter which is adapted to cut by displacement in either of two oppositedirections and by engagement of either of the two sides against a guide.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference totwo embodiments thereof which are illustrated, by way of example only,in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a sheet material cutter according to afirst embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the cutter shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view as seen along line 33 inFIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are front and rear views respectively of the cutteraccording to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views as seen along lines 66 and 7-7respectively in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a sheet material cutter according to asecond embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the sheet material cutter shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view as seen along line l010in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a transverse cross-sectional view as seen along line 11-11 inFIG. 8.

The sheet material or paper cutter according to the first embodiment ofthe invention will first be described in detail with reference to FIGS.1 to 7 inclusive.

The cutter according to the first embodiment includes a body 1, ofmolded plastic or other material, formed of a single block. The body hasan elongated form defining a pair of substantially parallel oppositesides 2 and 3 respectively, each formed with a finger grip recess 4. Thebody 1 includes a bottom face 5 which forms a smooth planar face ofreference. The side 3 forms a straight edge with the bottom face 5.

A sheet passage slot 6 enters into the body 1 through the bottom face 5and through the straight edge side 3, extends transversely through thebody and outwardly through the opposite wall 2, as best shown in FIG. 6.Thus, slot 6 is inclined downwardly at a small inclination transverselyof body 1 towards straight edge side 3 to form with bottom face 5 asharp edge 11' extending longitudinally of and adjacent straight edgeside 3. The body includes an internal recess 7 adapted to hold a cuttingblade 8 therein, such as a razor blade, as substantially shown in FIG.3. The internal recess 7 is shaped to automatically hold the cuttingblade 8 in a plane extending lengthwise of the body 1 intermediate theopposite sides 2 and 3 and substantially perpendicular to bottom face 5and such that a cutting edge 9-of the blade is inclined downwardly andrearwardly and intersects the sheet passage slot 6 and faces towards thefront end of body 1.

The portion of the sheet passage slot 6 ahead of the cutting edge 9forms an entrance portion for a sheet and extends generally across thefull width of the body 1, as best shown in FIG. 6. The slot 6 isinclined downwardly forwardly and longitudinally of the body 1 towardsthe planar bottom face 5 to form a front sharp edge 11 continuing sharpedge 11' to pick up the sheet of paper or other material. Thus, slot 6divides body 1 into a top portion in which blade 8 is located and a baseportion defining an entrance ramp end portion 10.

A strip 12, of flexible material, is fixed into the entrance portion ofthe slot 6 against the upper wall thereof and has a rear lip portionhanging into that slot and being forked to extend past both sides 9,while clearing the latter, as shown in FIG. 3, or the lip portion mayextend past only one side of cutting edge 9, whereby a sheet insertedinto the slot 6 will be pressed down by that lip portion, whereby tooppose the formation of folds in the sheet travelling towards thecutting edge and also to allow operation of the cutter with sheets ofdifferent thicknesses. The sheet passage slot 6 divides into twodistinct branches l3 and 14 behind the cutting edge 9 for the exit ofthe cut pieces. Branches l3 and 14 overlap each other and extend beyondthe plane of blade 8. They open at the respective opposite sides of body1 and terminate within said body to define a web 6' therebetween, whichinterconnects the two portions of body 1 lying above and below slot 6.

An opening 15 is formed at the top of the body 1 to allow access intothe recess 7 to remove a cutting blade 8 therefrom or to insert one. Acover 16 is slidably mounted onto the body 1 and arranged to close theopening 15 and prevent a cutting blade from escaping during shipping orwhen the cutter is held upside down. A button 18 is provided on thecover to slide the latter. Alternately, body 1 can be made in twosections separable to uncover blade 8 and releasably connected together.Thus, opening and cover 16 can be eliminated.

A slot 19 having inclined ends extends through the planar bottom face 5and communicates with the cutting edge 9 to allow chips of the cutmaterial to escape and to prevent clogging of the sheet passage slot 6.

A sharp edge 19 protrudes from the front of body 1 and is in the planeof cutting blade 8 to provide an indication of the line of cut.

With the cutter above described in detail, a sheet of paper S or thelike material, is cut by engaging the sharp edge 11 under the sheet ofmaterial and by displacing the cutter forwardly.

A particular advantage of the herein described cutter is that it mayproduce a straight line cut by running the straight edge side 3 againstthe edge of a ruler 20, of any usual type, such as shown in FIGS. 6 and7. The cutter is then adapted, by arrangement of the slot 6, such thatthe sheet of material does not interfere between the ruler and thecutter and also between the cutter and the support surface or table. Itis noted that, since slot 6 opens laterally along straight edge 3 aswell as at bottom face 5, the body is not pressed down on the sheet ofmaterial in its portion between the ruler 20 and lateral sharp edge 11'.Due to sharp edges 11 and 11 and to the small inclination of slot 6longitudinally and transversely of body 1, nowhere is the part of thesheet of material extending from underneath the ruler 20 bent at morethan a small angle. Also, because of the overlapping of slot branches l3and 14, the edges of the cut sheet behind the cutting blade do notengage the bottom of these slot branches. There results a minimum offriction between the stationary sheet and the moving cutter during thecutting operation, whereby a neat cut is obtained.

A second embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11inclusive, includes a body formed of a top block-like portion 21, ofelongated form molded with a cutting blade 22 in situ therein. The topportion 21 includes a pair of substantially parallel opposite sides 23and 24 forming each a straight edge adapted to run along a ruler 20, ofany usual type. The sides 23 and 24 each includes a fingergrip recess orcavity 25.

The cutter 22 has a pair of cutting edges 26 at opposite ends thereof,which are inclined downwardly inwardly, as shown, to enhance the cuttingaction.

The body also includes a bottom block-like portion 27, of plastic, whichis also molded with the cutting blade 22 extending in situ therein, asshown, to be bonded thereto and supported thereby. The portions 21 and27 are complementarily shaped to form a sheet passage slot 28 betweeneach other. The bottom portion 27 has a smooth planar external bottomface 29 extending transversely between but terminating short of theopposite sides 23 and 24. The slot 28 enters into the body of the cutterthrough the bottom face 29 and both sides 23 and 24 thereof adjacenteach of the said opposite sides 23 and 24 and extends into the bodythrough substantially the full width and full length thereof. Each ofthe two opposite ends of the block 27 forms an entrance ramp end portion30 tapering outwardly towards the planar bottom face 29 and forming anend sharp edge 31 and lateral sharp edges 31 with the latter. Thus,there is a continuous sharp edge at the entire periphery of bottomportion 27. Also, slot 28 is longitudinally and transversely downwardlyinclined at a small inclination towards bottom face 29.

It can easily be seen that the cutter according to the second embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 8 to 11 inclusive may be displaced in either of thetwo longitudinal directions to cut a sheet of paper S while being runagainst the lateral edge of a ruler 20, as shown in FIG. 1 1.

l claim:

1. A sheet material cutter comprising an elongated body having a pair ofopposite sides, a front end and a flat bottom face, one of said oppositesides having a lower marginal surface portion which is straightthroughout the entire length of said body to be applied against aguiding ruler for guided displacement of said body along said ruler,said body having a sheet passage slot extending transversely andlongitudinally thereof and opening at the front end and at each side ofsaid body, said sheet passage slot downwardly inclined at a smallinclination longitudinally forwardly of said body and transverselytowards said lower marginal surface portion to form with said bottomface a thin edge at the front end and adjacent said lower marginalsurface portion, and a cutting blade carried by said body in alongitudinal plane of said body intermediate said opposite sides andsubstantially perpendicular to said bottom face and including a cuttingedge intersecting said slot and facing towards said front end, and meanslocated rearwardly of said cutting edge interconnecting the portions ofsaid body lying above and below said sheet passage slot.

2. A sheet material cutter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sheetpassage slot, rearwardly of said cutting edge, is divided into twodistinct branches opening at a respective opposite side of said body andterminating within said body to define a web therebetween, said webconstituting said interconnecting means, the terminal portions of therespective slot branches overlapping each other and extending beyond theplane of said cutting blade transversely of the cutter.

3. A sheet material cutter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said body hasa rear end and that one of said slot branches adjacent said lowerstraight marginal surface portion opens at said rear end and said bottomface, while the other of said branches open only at said rear end.

4. A sheet material cutter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cuttingedge is downwardly inclined toward the rear end of said body and furtherincluding a flexible lip fixed against the top internal side of saidslot ahead of said cutting edge extending lengthwise of said slottowards said cutting edge and yieldably projecting towards the lowerinternal side of said slot.

5. A sheet material cutter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion ofsaid body lying above said slot has an internal recess arranged tooperatively removably hold said cutting blade and an access slot givingaccess to said recess to allow removal and replacement of said cuttingblade.

6. A sheet material cutter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion ofsaid body lying below said passage slot has an opening therethroughwhich opens within said sheet passage slot and at said bottom face andreceiving said cutting edge and arranged to allow I escape of chips ofcut material therethrough.

7. A sheet material cutter as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidinterconnecting means consist of the cutting blade itself.

8. A sheet material cutter as claimed in claim 7, sides, as well as thefront end and rear end of said body. wherein the portion of said bodylying below said sheet passage slot has a top face which defines aninternal 9. A sheet material cutter as claimed in claim 1, furside ofsaid passage slot and which is convex both longither including a sharpedge portion protruding from the tudinally and transversely of the bodyand defines a 5 front end of said body and in the plane of said cuttingsharp edge along its entire periphery, said sheet passage blade toprovide an indication of the line of cut. slot opening at said bottomface and at both opposite

1. A sheet material cutter comprising an elongated body having a pair ofopposite sides, a front end and a flat bottom face, one of said oppositesides having a lower marginal surface portion which is straiGhtthroughout the entire length of said body to be applied against aguiding ruler for guided displacement of said body along said ruler,said body having a sheet passage slot extending transversely andlongitudinally thereof and opening at the front end and at each side ofsaid body, said sheet passage slot downwardly inclined at a smallinclination longitudinally forwardly of said body and transverselytowards said lower marginal surface portion to form with said bottomface a thin edge at the front end and adjacent said lower marginalsurface portion, and a cutting blade carried by said body in alongitudinal plane of said body intermediate said opposite sides andsubstantially perpendicular to said bottom face and including a cuttingedge intersecting said slot and facing towards said front end, and meanslocated rearwardly of said cutting edge interconnecting the portions ofsaid body lying above and below said sheet passage slot.
 2. A sheetmaterial cutter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sheet passage slot,rearwardly of said cutting edge, is divided into two distinct branchesopening at a respective opposite side of said body and terminatingwithin said body to define a web therebetween, said web constitutingsaid interconnecting means, the terminal portions of the respective slotbranches overlapping each other and extending beyond the plane of saidcutting blade transversely of the cutter.
 3. A sheet material cutter asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said body has a rear end and that one ofsaid slot branches adjacent said lower straight marginal surface portionopens at said rear end and said bottom face, while the other of saidbranches open only at said rear end.
 4. A sheet material cutter asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said cutting edge is downwardly inclinedtoward the rear end of said body and further including a flexible lipfixed against the top internal side of said slot ahead of said cuttingedge extending lengthwise of said slot towards said cutting edge andyieldably projecting towards the lower internal side of said slot.
 5. Asheet material cutter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion of saidbody lying above said slot has an internal recess arranged tooperatively removably hold said cutting blade and an access slot givingaccess to said recess to allow removal and replacement of said cuttingblade.
 6. A sheet material cutter as claimed in claim 1, wherein theportion of said body lying below said passage slot has an openingtherethrough which opens within said sheet passage slot and at saidbottom face and receiving said cutting edge and arranged to allow escapeof chips of cut material therethrough.
 7. A sheet material cutter asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said interconnecting means consist of thecutting blade itself.
 8. A sheet material cutter as claimed in claim 7,wherein the portion of said body lying below said sheet passage slot hasa top face which defines an internal side of said passage slot and whichis convex both longitudinally and transversely of the body and defines asharp edge along its entire periphery, said sheet passage slot openingat said bottom face and at both opposite sides, as well as the front endand rear end of said body.
 9. A sheet material cutter as claimed inclaim 1, further including a sharp edge portion protruding from thefront end of said body and in the plane of said cutting blade to providean indication of the line of cut.